Southern Inland Rugby 2011

[yourmatesam]

Finals Series Week Two at Temora Recreation Ground, Temora

9:45am 3rd Grade – Griffith v Young

There are some handy old heads running around in this match, although fitness will definitely be an issue, neither team are too stressed out about running beep tests. Griffith’s physicality will be hard to go past in this one.

10:45am Under 17’s – Young v Tahs

After a stellar season so far, Young faltered against Griffith last week and they will not want to make the same mistakes again this week. From all reports, the Young team just had an off day, it would be great to see them pull off a win here. Tahs played a tough game against CSU last weekend and will be looking to build on those efforts again this week. Young have had some handy players coming through their juniors and I feel they are going to get up against the Tahs.


12noon First Division 2nd Grade – Leeton v City

Tumut were always going to be hard to get over last weekend and they made short work of Leeton in what was a hard fought affair. City had to work hard for their win against Coota and will need to pull together this weekend if they want to play finals footy. Both teams will have First Grade players who are eligible to play in this match and these players will decide the outcome.


1:25pm Premier Division 2nd Grade – Aggies v CSU

This was a really good game when these two sides played in the final round of the competition when Aggies got up 29-10. Neither team gave an inch and both ran some really hard straight lines.

Aggies will be devastated after their loss to Tahs last week where they trialled the new e-tag system in Wagga and will want to shore up their defence if they are serious about winning a GF. CSU are peaking at the right time and will have gained more confidence from their excellent performance against Albury. This will be a really entertaining game and in my opinion is the second best match of the day.


2:50pm Premier Division 1st Grade – Tahs v CSU

Well, well – I didn’t think I would see this game at all. CSU played out of their skins against Albury and should be proud of how they stood up against a more fancied outfit. Sniping runs from Jack Burey (he had a great kicking game too), solid crash balls from Josh Peffer and crunching defence from Joe Tora were the order of the day.

Tahs let Aggies out to a 21-0 lead before reeling that back late in the game. Mick Roche and Daniel Francis gave it everything they had, but just couldn’t come away with the win. Xavier Chigwidden would have some explaining to do to his team mates this week after electing to drop kick a conversion from right in front and missing. This could have been a crucial error as it would have brought Tahs to within 6 points of Aggies late in the game.

CSU have been Tah’s bogey team for the last decade and that has a lot to do with Paul Hood. He has a great ability to get his team out of trouble when it counts and is being really well supported by Jack Burey with some good back up from his loose forwards.

This game is going to be a cracker as Tahs will be licking their wounds after being embarrassed by Aggies and they will want to atone for their dismal performance last week by belting CSU. Reddies will be confident going into this match, they had been written off for the majority of the second half of the season but have made a really good account of themselves recently (particularly against Tahs a few weeks ago) and will carry that attitude into this game. They know how to play finals footy and if they can eliminate their slow starts they will be dangerous.

Tahs got blown away by the aggressive Aggies forwards last week and will be looking for their tight five to stand up this week. Moving Rob ‘Rup’ Elliot to the second row cost the Tahs as he has been a standout at 8 for them all year and was wasted doing the tight work.

This match is definitely the match of the day and could go either way. I’m not keen on tipping a winner here because both teams have the ability to bag this, but they have also played some erratic footy during the year.


4:30pm First Division 1st Grade – Temora v Young

Young v Tumut was a really fast paced game last week with both sides playing some entertaining footy while the Temora v Coota match was a pretty one sided affair. All credit to Coota who played to their strengths and earn the week off now.

Some defensive lapses cost Young early but they should be heartened by the grit they showed to keep throwing the ball around. If they can take the same attitude into this game, they will run the Temora guys around the park and off their feet.

Temora’s effort against Coota last week was not great, it was as though they were playing for bonus points as they turned down kickable penalties. Maybe they were trying to show faith in their forwards, but it didn’t work out for them and they will surely take any penalties they can this week.

If we take fitness into account, I think Young have it over Temora. Temora have a handy forward pack who can mix it with the best of teams for 50-60mins and while Young may not have the best forward pack in the comp, they are fitter. Temora’s scrum should stay solid which will give them some ascendancy.

Temora are at home, with their Captain Coach Bill McCrone playing and will be pumped to win here. Temora have really struggled without Bill since round 6 and need to pull together here or their promising start to the year will fade into the distance.

 

[Nusadan]

Great post, thanks...

 

[yourmatesam]

Elimination Finals Results

Premier Division
First Grade: Tahs 41 bt CSU 39
Second Grade: CSU 27 bt Aggies 3

First Division
First Grade: Young 38 bt Temora 15
Second Grade: Leeton 17 bt City 17 - Draw after extra time, highest ranked team progresses...

Thirsty Thirds:
Young 7 bt Griffith 5

Under 17's:
Young 29 bt Tahs 22

GRAND FINALS:

Premier Division:
First Grade: Aggies v Tahs
Second Grade: Tahs v CSU

First Division:
First Grade: Coota v Young
Second Grade: Tumut v Leeton

Thirsty Thirds:
Hay v Young

Under 17's:
Griffith v Young

 

[Nusadan]

Great to see my old club Young Yabbies doing well today, all roads from there lead to Wagga next week!

 

[yourmatesam]

Quick Review of the weekends games...

All roads lead to Wagga next weekend for the SIRU Grand Finals in all grades from under 11’s through to First Grade. It’s good to see such a cross section of the zone on display in the Grand Finals with teams from Hay, Leeton, Young, Coota, Griffith, Tumut and Wagga all on show.


Premier Division
First Grade: Tahs 41 bt CSU 39

As expected, Tahs came out flying and CSU took forever to get going. Tahs had four tries up by half time and were killing CSU in the penalty count too. CSU had done enough in the first half to stay in contact with the defending premiers, but Tahs were ahead at half time.

Whatever Cannon Banks said to CSU at half time he should bottle, because they came out a new team in the second stanza. CSU scored 30 odd points in 15mins in the middle of the second half and were up by one point with 15mins to go.

Body language was a telling sign in the second half, with Tahs really struggling. Fitness has been a real benchmark of the Waratahs as a club over the past 10 years or so and it was evident that these guys are not as fit as they have been in previous years. CSU were on their toes ready to go, whereas the Tahs were dawdling everywhere with heads down.

Best for CSU were Jack Burey who has really found some fine form late in the season, Joe Tora and Mitch Fealy. Tahs were well served by Daniel Francis, Mick Roche and Xavier Chigwidden.

Second Grade: CSU 27 bt Aggies 3

This was another disappointing result from Aggies (Minor Premiers). In the last two matches, they have only scored 3 points which is a baffling statistic given that they have been the standout team in the Premier Division Second Grade Comp and possess players who would walk into First Grade at other clubs.

In what was a free-flowing game, CSU threw the ball around after Aggies took an early 3 point lead. After knocking over a penalty it was all CSU from there on in as the Chalks played some enterprising footy and put on some good tries. One try of particular note was their 15man maul - dangerous but it worked well!!

The only positive that Aggies can take out of this game is that they will have a fresh bench of reserves for the Grand Final.

First Division
First Grade: Young 38 bt Temora 15

Young should be proud of their performance in this match as they really had to work hard for victory against Temora on their home turf. 38-15 is a credible score line but could have been larger if not for a late Tuskers resurgence.

Discipline was an issue for the Tuskers with second rower Ash Sheehan yellow carded late in the first half for a high tackle. Young made the most of their overlap and really threw the ball around for the final minutes of the first half, but to Temora’s credit, they stuck it to Young over this period as well.

Some excellent counter attacking was a highlight from both teams, with Young having the edge as they made some easy yards through the middle of the field. Temora had every opportunity to win this match and would be disappointed with some of their options yesterday.

Second Grade: Leeton 17 bt City 17 Highest ranked team progresses.

Well talk about high drama, this game had it all. City were up 17-10 with about 3mins left on the clock when Leeton won a scrum 5m out on the 15m line. Leeton’s solid forward pack aimed up and were driving towards the line for what looked like a certain try when the City second rower unbound from the scrum and dived on the ball. What was the result of this? You guessed it – penalty try. Leeton converted to put the game into extra time.

Extra time lasted for 5mins each way, after which neither team could be separated, so the highest ranked team went through. Honestly this was a pretty dismal affair with both teams having plenty of chances to gain territory only for persistent knock ons to result.

Thirsty Thirds: Young 7 bt Griffith 5

There were some surprisingly fit players in the Griffith lineup who looked very similar to some players who had played First Grade for them during the year…

This game essentially came down to one missed penalty by the Griffith Blacks as both teams had some serious fitness and ball handling issues. Ashley Gunn was gifted a penalty about 15m out right in front and shanked the ball wide with about 10mins remaining in the match.

Under 17’s: Young 29 bt Tahs 22

This was a great tussle between two spirited under 17’s teams. Full credit must go to the Yabbies as they were always a step ahead of the Tahs in this match, although it was a close game.

Discipline cost the Tahs early in the second half after a series of infringements late in the first half that resulted in tries to the Yabbies, they were warned to watch themselves. 2mins into the second half a lazy late hit from the Tahs 13 earned himself some time in the bin.

Following on from this, Young scored a quick try and that was really the end of the match.

 

[yourmatesam]

Times and grounds have been announced for this weekend.

Will we have a G&GR celebrity reporter at Conolly Park for the GF?

 

[yourmatesam]

Grand Final Preview

All games will be played at Conolly Rugby Park, Wagga Wagga and will include both Seniors and Juniors Grand Finals on the day.

9:45am CRP #1 Griffith v Wagga White - Under 11’s

10:00am CRP #2 Leeton v Griffith - Under 15’s

10:50am CRP #1 Young v Griffith - Under 17’s

Following on from last week, which was a solid performance from the young Young Yabbies, this will be a tough hit out for them. The Griffith 17’s are a solid outfit, but this time of year is always difficult for them as the boys tend to play league and union which may take out some key players. It would be good for the Yabbies to get up here as they have been one of the more successful junior clubs in the zone.

11:15am CRP #2 Tumut v Leeton - First Division Second Grade

Well, Leeton are lucky to be here but will be looking to make a good account of themselves in the GF. Fitness was an issue for them against City last week and will be an issue again this week against the younger Tumut side. Tumut will be guided around the park by their smart 10 George Molineaux and served well by their speedy outside backs. Leeton’s strength is in their forward pack and 10 man rugby, but it is hard to go past Tumut in this one.

12:20pm CRP #1 Tahs v CSU - Premier Division Second Grade

This game is going to be one of the matches of the day because there is a l-o-n-g history of rivalry here. CSU have a very strong history of being one of the premier second grade teams in the zone, while Waratahs have been strong as well they have faltered at the final hurdle in second grade too many times in recent years.

There is plenty of experience scattered amongst these two teams which will be a vital element on Saturday. CSU may have the edge as they will have all their players available after 1st Grade lost last week, but Waratahs will be freshened after the week off.

Both teams have put in solid performances in recent weeks and both have found some good late season form. Expect the likes of the Hannaford brothers for Tahs and Mick King and Andy Bedford for CSU to be the standouts.

Will CSU pull out their 15 man maul again this week?

12:40pm CRP #2 Hay v Young - 3rd Grade

It’s great to see two teams from outside of Wagga contesting this match as it shows that there is depth and commitment to the lower grades outside of “town”. The Hay Cutters have been the standout team in 3rds all year, but the Yabbies have a solid team of their own. I think rugby will be the real winner in this match and it will be a match played in healthy spirits.

2:00pm CRP #1 Coota v Young - First Division First Grade

Young played out of their skins last week and will be confident coming into this match while the Coota boys will be nervous after watching the game against Temora last weekend.

The return to town of Tom Coupland at 5/8 has been the biggest boost for Young as it has given them so much more direction around the park to support the good nucleus that they have on hand. They could clean up their set pieces a bit, but other than that, they are looking ok for the finals.

Coota have a solid team that will really punish the Yabbies in defence and work hard all day in attack. Coota’s scrum has been a solid element of their game and sets a good platform for their elusive backline. Good supporting runs from Alex Hardie make yards through the middle easy to come by and helps them score out wide.

As defending premiers in this division I think Coota are hard to go past, but with Tom Coupland on the scene Young could steal this one from the Tri Colours.

3:45pm CRP #1 Aggies v Tahs - Premier Division First Grade

REMATCH, REEE-MATCH. How many times are we going to see these two teams in the Grand Final? This will be Tahs 4th Grand Final appearance in a row and Aggies 3rd.

The two best teams are playing each other for the right to be named SIRU Premiers 2011. Waratahs are Minor Premiers while Aggies are Club Champions.

Aggies muscled up against the Tahs two weeks ago and from what I saw at Temora, this is going to be another crucial aspect of the game for Aggies. If they smash Tahs at the breakdown, they will go a long way to winning the Premiership.

Over the past two weeks, Tahs have missed way too many tackles and have not shown the ticker that they can at the breakdown. Dan Selmes was screaming at his charges from fullback last week about “First Up Tackles” to the point that he was hoarse after the game. This is a bad sign for a team playing in a grand final.

Aggies weaknesses are in their holes around the ruck and poor options at 10. Too many easy metres can be made from pick and drive and Dan Moloney tends to kick the ball when nothing is on. If Tahs are smart to this, they could really apply some pressure to the Aggies.

Strengths for both teams are in their centres with the two Riverview boys Pat Barrett and Tim Corcoran showing their wares in the midfield. For me, I’d like to see some better defence from these two guys, they are very handy footy players and can really split a backline in attack, but have a tendency to fall off tackles now and then.

I think the Aggies tight five have the mustard against Tahs and should provide a solid platform around the field. Having said that, the Tahs scrum is a real weapon for them, they just don’t seem to apply that pressure to the breakdown for some reason. Mick Roche is the standout prop in the zone but he needs the rest of his tight five to follow his lead.

Out wide, the Aggies have been helped by the return of the Woodhouse brothers which gives them some good options as finishers and both have Grand Final experience. For Tahs, they will be well served by the attacking prowess of Dan Selmes at fullback who loves to run the ball back into the line and is very elusive.

In the forwards, it will be good to watch Daniel Francis and James Whitely as two opposing 7’s go at it at the breakdown. These guys are both fit and will need to be on their toes to win as much ball as they can for their respective teams.

This match will be close. Each team have their strengths and weaknesses which I’ve tried to highlight above. Tahs really need to ask themselves some tough questions this week and are very lucky to be playing on Grand Final day given their recent form. Aggies have had their moments this year, but need to step up and stamp their authority on Saturday if they want to take home the bacon.

Tahs Coach Mick Barrett will be having nightmares about leaking 30 points to CSU in 20 minutes last week, while Aggies Coach Andrew Corcoran will be having wet dreams over it!!

It would be a fairytale first season as coach for Mick Barrett if Tahs get up, but I think it may be a bridge too far.

Stay tuned...

 

[rigs23]

Come on Aggies!

 

[Lindommer]

go the mighty waggatahs!

 

[yourmatesam]

Team Lists and Referee Appiontments have been announced.

 

[lonhro10]

Have loved these updates all year having played down there through uni. Have 2 cousins playing both playing halfback for Young in different grades tomorrow, hope they go well.

Good luck to all involved

 

[yourmatesam]

Have loved these updates all year having played down there through uni. Have 2 cousins playing both playing halfback for Young in different grades tomorrow, hope they go well.

Good luck to all involved

Young have become specials to take out the First Division GF. Tom Coupland (must be some relation to Scotty) has been a deadset standout since moving to town about 5 weeks ago. Word is he's not in town for long, but I'm sure the Yabbies will take what's on offer while he's there.

Thanks for the feedback lonhro10.

 

[yourmatesam]

Weather update...

Sun is shining, clear blue skies, it's going to be a cracking day here in Wagga!!

 

[yourmatesam]

Grand Final Scores

Under 11's
Griffith 30 bt Wagga White 5

Under 13's
Played on Sunday due to league commitments from both teams

Under 15's
Leeton 27 bt Griffith 10

Under 17's
Griffith 29 bt Young 27

Thirsty Thirds
Hay 14 bt Young 7

First Division Second Grade
Tumut 27 bt Leeton 7

First Division First Grade
Coota 10 bt Young 7

Premier Division Second Grade
Tahs 20 bt CSU 16

Premier Division First Grade
Tahs 31 bt Aggies 8

 

[Nusadan]

Terrible day for Young Yabbies!

 

[rigs23]

Congratulations to all winners yesterday. The game of the day would have to go to the 17's. Both potent backlines were nothing short of exceptional all game and it made not only for an arm wrestle but also showcasing great running rugby, and as much as I'd hate to say it, congratulations Waratahs. It's a shame that a great day had to end with someone smashing the back window of the griffith bus. Also, thanks alot yourmatesam for your updates and insights all year.

 

[yourmatesam]

Grand Final Review

Under 11s
Griffith 30 bt Wagga White 5

This was a great spectacle for the young kids running around on CRP #1, there were some big boppers in the Griffith team that made life tough for the Wagga Whites. The standout player in this game was the Griffith #12 (Anthony Sloane) who showed clean heels for two great meat pies.

Under 13s
Played on Sunday due to league commitments from both teams. Still no mail here folks.

Under 15s
Leeton 27 bt Griffith 10

I didn’t get a chance to watch this match, but from all reports it was played in good spirit.

Under 17s
Griffith 29 bt Young 27

I agree with rigs23 that this was one of the standout matches for the day. The lead changed a number of times during the match and could have gone either way. Some great repeat efforts from both teams and skills that will hold both clubs in good stead in the future if they can keep the kids involved in the game.

Standouts for this game were Young #10 Seth Stoltenberg and Griffith #15 Semisi Rogoyawa who are both Brumbies Provincial rep players. Semisi joins an elite list of players to win the John Stewart medal for MOM that includes the likes of former Australian Schoolboys Kesomi Lolotonga and Robbie Abel (also lonhro10’s cousin Neil McMillan).

Thirsty Thirds
Hay 14 bt Young 7

Again, I didn’t get a chance to see this match, but my spies tell me that this game was a hard fought affair and showed some decent skills for a 3rd grade match. The Hay Cutters will be nursing sore heads after their 3 and a half hour bus ride back to Hay (plus stoppages along the way).

First Division Second Grade
Tumut 27 bt Leeton 7

Again, I was watching other games when this one was on, but the crowd on the hill tell me that Tumut were clearly ahead all game in this one. Tumut will be looking forward to next year if they can hold onto some of the younger characters that ran around in this team today. Winning second grade is always good for the future of your club and I’m sure Tumut will be stoked with this one.

First Division First Grade
Coota 10 bt Young 7

This game could have gone either way and Young were given two bites at the cherry to tie things up with about 5 mins remaining. Ill discipline cost Cootamundra with two players yellow carded at different times in the match and looking back on it, it was probably Young’s inability to put points on Coota when they were down to 14 men that cost them in the end. Coota played 20 mins of the match with 14 men and Young did not score against them in those two periods.

Best for Coota were #8 Andrew Sheridan and #9 Bob Scott, while Young were well served by #6 Mick McGee, #12 Adam Cockburn and #10 Tom Coupland. Coota #10 Willie Purcell took out the Warwick Tout Memorial Medal for MOM.

Anyone that is driving between Cootamundra and the Gold Coast, keep your eyes peeled for a mini bus driving the Coota boys to the Goldie for their end of season trip. This is a MASSIVE effort… They left Coota at 2am Sunday morning bound for Sydney to hire a bus to drive to the Gold Coast where they will spend the week before flying home next weekend. Lucky they won…

Premier Division Second Grade
Tahs 20 bt CSU 16

Another good game, CSU had the Tahs on the ropes until the final 10 mins of the match when key players were subbed off. CSU led 16-13 with 10 mins remaining before a Tahs burst on the open side of play saw some slick passing to winger Shane Butcher to put the ball down under the posts.

One big hit saw two players leave the field for blood injuries early in the match which involved both players clashing heads. No malice in the tackle, but geez there was some blood out there.

For me, this game came down to the use of the bench, Tahs kept running out fresh legs while the CSU boys only made changes late in the game. Some brain snaps from both teams could have swung either way, but in the end Tahs had just done enough to get out of jail. A wins a win on Grand Final day though.

Best players for Tahs were #8 Matt Hannaford, #10 Adam McPherson while CSU saw #9 Sean O’Hara, #8 Meli Tui and #10 Andrew Dutton lead from the front. Waratahs #15 Shane Butcher deservedly took out the President’s Medal for MOM.

Premier Division First Grade
Tahs 31 bt Aggies 8

Well, talk about a turn around. Leaking a shitload of points to CSU last week and getting belted by Aggies the week before were all distant memories for the Tahs. Maybe having the week off was a bad thing for the Aggies, but this was a real turnaround for Tahs.

The first 10 mins of the match saw clean crisp passing and solid defence from both teams but the next 30 mins didn’t really see much action and we went to the break at 7-3 to Tahs. Aggies forwards played extremely well and belted the Tahs at the breakdown and were dominant at scrum time. The point of difference was in the backs.

All season these two teams have had one crucial weak link and it has been the two 5/8s. Neither Dan Moloney or Jayden Stanton had poor games, but neither of them had good games either. Aimless kicking was the result of two inexperienced 10s.

The masterstroke for the Tahs was the selection of Scott Hannaford at 12. Knob has been a bit of a journeyman around the SIRU zone for a number of seasons now and his ability to clean up around Jayden Stanton and run hard straight lines got them over the advantage line and made space outside him for Pat Barrett and Jack Meagher to run riot.

A brilliant individual effort from Jack Meagher early in the second half was a real highlight of the day. He beat two defenders on the outside then kicked ahead (banana bender along the touchline), regathered and burnt another would be tackler to score in the corner. One of the best tries that has been scored in this zone for a long time.

Aggies had two tries disallowed for forward passes, one in the first half out wide and one in the second half under the posts. In total, there were four forward pass calls against Aggies when they were in great attacking positions. If they had cleaned this area of the game up, the score line may have been different, but they didn’t.

Panic seemed to set in for the Aggies with about 15 mins to go and they took some poor options. With 20 mins remaining, Tahs were up by 14 points and Aggies still had every opportunity to win the game. Some terrible kicks at crucial points in the game and Tahs solid defensive line held the Aggies back.

An intercept try to Pat Barrett late in the game sealed the win for the Tahs. 31-8 is probably a flattering scoreline for the Tahs as I thought Aggies won the contest at the breakdown and in the scrums, it was just the class of the Tahs outside backs that got them over the line.

Best for Tahs were #7 Daniel Francis and #12 Scott Hannaford. Aggies standouts were #9 Pete Armstrong, #13 Tim Corcoran and #8 Dave Armstrong. Tahs #8 Rob “Rup” Elliot took out the Rivcoll Old Boys Medal for MOM in his final game of rugby, while Aggies #9 Pete Armstrong was awarded the Bill Castle Medal for SIRU Best and Fairest during the regular season.

All in all it was a great day of footy, there was plenty of crowd support and the weather couldn’t have been better for the day.

 

[Lindommer]

Lindommer and yourmatesam at the Southern Inland Rugby Grand Finals in Wagga Wagga yesterday. A grand day for the mighty Waggatahs with some outstanding support from the G&GR t-shirts.

 

[lonhro10]

Thanks for the wrap up and again for your efforts throughout the season yourmatesam.

I've seen a few games down that way over the past few years and there are number of quality players floating around in the siru comp and the standard of play would surprise many.

Not the best day for the yabbies but congratulations to all teams that won and made the gf this year.

 

[yourmatesam]

Before we all get too excited about the World Cup starting this weekend, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone that has replied on the forums and given their input into this thread. I’ve enjoyed doing my little write up and hope that it’s been informative and given those people that are outside the zone or who used to follow, play or live in the zone some idea about how things are travelling here in SIRU.

I think we have a decent little competition here and am already having withdrawal symptoms now that the season is over. If it wasn’t for the World Cup, I don’t know what I’d do with myself on Saturday afternoons! I’m looking forward to doing a write up again next year, thanks again to everyone who has contributed to the thread, I’ve appreciated your feedback.

Go the Wallabies!!